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I shrug. In all honesty, his invitation took me by surprise too. “I don’t know. I think he wants to talk about the project I started with Hannah when I was in Los Angeles. He didn’t go into detail. You know what Aaron’s like. He gives orders and expects you to obey.” I try to explain, but I don’t think I’m doing very well, given his increasingly angry face.
“No, I don’t know how Aaron is because he never invites me out to dinner.” He gets up from his stool and throws the plate in the sink, still full of his breakfast.
“Evan, don’t be angry. It’s just a stupid dinner.” I beg him when I see that this conversation has turned anything but friendly.
He turns to me and nails me with his gaze. “With Aaron, it’s neverjusta stupid dinner,” he hisses, pointing his finger at me before heading to the bedroom.
In one hour, I went from being awakened by the most overwhelming orgasm ever to arguing with him about a stupid dinner with his brother. I’m so confused my head is spinning. I follow him to the room and find him half-dressed.
“Are you jealous of your brother?” I ask incredulously. It didn’t even occur to me that this could be a date.
“Go to your apartment and change, Emily. You’re already late.” His words are harsh, leaving no room for discussion, and I feel a little guilty because I never thought accepting an invitation to a stupid business dinner could make him so angry. On the other hand, I can’t help but smile that he went from being professional to passionate in such a short time. Until not even three months ago, we didn’t even go out alone, and this morning he suggested leaving my clothes at his house. For such a control freak, he sure is at the mercy of his feelings when it comes to our relationship.
***
I enter the Mandalay right on time. Before meeting with Aaron, I left the office early to go to my apartment and change. I haven’t heard from his brother since this morning, not even to answer my phone calls. Okay, maybe it’s also because he’s been in meetings with lawyers all day, and it’s difficult to find even two minutes to call someone, but the discussion we had this morning put me in a bad mood.
When Aaron gets up to welcome me to his table, he immediately notices my mood and raises a questioning eyebrow.
“I hope this dinner is important because your brother made a scene this morning at breakfast when I told him I was meeting you.”
“Good evening to you too, Emily. It’s a pleasure to see you again. I’m fine, thank you, and you?” He smiles as he sits next to me at the table.
I give him the stink eye, and he, in response, laughs. I want to slap him for daring to tease me like this.
“Was he jealous?”
“What do you think?”
“Good. I’m glad he finally found a woman.”
I roll my eyes. Only Aaron would be glad Evan and I argued. “Why did you invite me out? Are there any problems with Hannah?”
He smiles and shakes his head before laying the napkin across his knees. “No, Hannah is doing great. I came here for my brother.”
The surprise on my face must be evident because he smiles and tilts his head to the side.
“I’m not as heartless as everyone thinks. I’m worried about him. He’s been a wreck lately and a stubborn ass who doesn’t want help. He cuts my calls short, saying he’s busy, and I don’t know if it’s because he’s found some new clients or if he’s isolating himself in a self-destructive spiral like he’s been doing a lot lately,” he admits.
I smile. “Welcome to my world. You want to help your brother? Get in line. It’ll be a long wait.” I sip the glass of water the waiter just poured.
Aaron studies me, amused for a long moment. “What can I do for him? Because honestly, if he doesn’t want to tell me, I’ll still find a way to help him, whether he wants it or not.”
“Evasion and stubbornness are family traits.” I smile, leaning back in my chair.
“We have a Bible-length list of flaws, but these two are vying for the top spots, yes.”
I take a deep breath. I wish I had even half of his confidence. “I don’t know. What are you willing to do? He needs the money from the trust fund to free the Red Velvet Curtains from their contract. He’s looking for it elsewhere, but I don’t know anything else. Maybe if you find investors who don’t want to control Jail Records, that would help.”
He seems to think about it for a long time and then nods. “Can you get me the Red Velvet contract? I want to take a look at it.”
I cross my arms over my chest and study him. He actually expects me to do something that devious. It’s incredible the confidence this man has in himself. “You do know what you’re asking me is illegal, don’t you?”
“Yes, but I’m also sure you’ll do it. I wouldn’t have asked you to come here tonight otherwise.” He smiles at me smugly and winks.
I burst out laughing, amused. “Christ, I still can’t get over your presumption. Whatever, yes, I’ll get you that contract,” I say, just as a couple of fingers wrap around my chin and turn my head toward the furious face of Evan.
I don’t even have time to process what’s happening when he sticks his tongue down my throat and claims me with a kiss that makes my toes curl. It’s passionate and possessive, and it makes me hot. When I can finally breathe, Evan turns to his brother and nails him to the chair with a look that could kill.
